Former SGF, Anyim in EFCC Custody Over Alleged Fraud in Centenary City Project

There are indications that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja.
His arrest is said to be connected to fraud he allegedly committed involving Centenary City in Abuja, while in office.
It was gathered that Anyim is currently in detention and is being interrogated by EFCC officials.
Anyim, who served as President of the Senate under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, was still being held at the agency’s facility Thursday night.
The House of Representatives had on March 16, 2017, directed the Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to prosecute the former SGF for his role in the acquisition of land for the controversial multi-billion dollar Centenary City Project.
The lawmakers took the decision after they considered and adopted the report of the House Committee on Federal Capital Territory, which investigated the alleged “abuses” of the project.
The House resolved that the ex-SGF and other “promoters” of the project should be prosecuted and public funds spent on it recovered for the Federal Government.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the project in 2014 to commemorate Nigeria’s centenary anniversary.
Anyim, a former President of the Senate, was the driver of the project, valued to gulp $18.376b.
The public land acquired for the city covered 1,267 hectares.
But, the committee, in its report to the House, said the promoters of the project abused Jonathan’s presidential directives and also flouted existing laws guiding the Abuja land swap policy to suit personal and other business interests.
The committee had laid its report before the House on March 8, 2017, while the lawmakers in the Committee of the Whole approved the recommendations of the committee.
Among the promoters listed for prosecution along with Anyim are a former Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed; Ms. Boma Ozobia; and Paul Oki.
Ozobia and Oki are the sole directors of Centenary City Plc, a firm incorporated for the sole purpose of executing the project.